Hosiery boarding form



1955 c. HORBERG, JR

HOSIERY BOARDING FORM Filed Aug. 31, 1962 INVENTOR.

CHARLES HORBERG JR BY 3 Ww W P M i,

ATTYS.

".JIW

United States Patent 3,169,680 HOSIERY BOARDING FORM Charles Horherg, Jr., Chicago, 111., assignor to Paramount Textile Machinery Co., Kankakee, III., a corporation of Illinois Filed Aug. 31, 1962, Ser. No. 220,732 1 Claim. (Cl. 223-75) This invention relates to a hosiery boarding form or the like in which certain sections are detachably joined to provide for interchangeable use of variously sized sections. More particularly, the invention relates to a sectional hosiery form having new and improved structure for assembling and holding the sections together.

Hosiery boarding forms are employed in the textile industry in the drying and setting of hosiery. A Wet or damp stocking is placed on each form and dried or boarded in its proper shape thereon, and in certain cases stockings are subjected to steam or other atmospheres while on the forms so as to be set to their proper shape. In the past, sectional hosiery forms have been provided for use with interchangeable parts which correspond to diiierent hosiery sizes. However, the prior forms have in nearly every'case suffered from one or more of several disadvantages, including excessive bulk, delay in assembly and disassembly of the parts, a tendency for the stockings to be snagged, and increased structural requirements and cost.

An object of the present invention is to provide a hosiery form for use with interchangeable sections, which overcomes prior disadvantages and which is very well adapted for use in large quantities in the textile industry.

A particular object is to provide a hosiery form of the class described that is compact, unencumbered with additions, and true to shape, and which afio'rds very easy and rapid boarding and stripping of the hosiery, with the hosiery being set properly on the form and remaining undistorted during the boarding operations.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a hosiery form having sections that may be assembled and disassembled simply, rapidly and accurately, and when assembled, are securely held together.

A further object is to provide a simple, low cost sectional hosiery form which accomplishes all of the foregoing objects.

These and other objects, advantages and functions of the invention will be apparent on reference to the specification and to the attached drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein like parts are identified by like reference symbols in each of the views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the new hosiery form;

FIG. 2 is a similar view of the form, showing the sections thereof detached from each other;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the form, taken substantially along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged elevational view of the inner end of the toe section of the form, taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged elevational view of the inner end of the body of the form, more particularly, the heel section or portion thereof, taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 2

The invention provides a hosiery form for use with interchangeable sections, and includes a pair of sections detachably joined together. Locking means are provided on a side of the form for holding the sections together. The locking means includes a spring lock secured on one of the sections and having a segment protruding outwardly therefrom. The locking means further includes a locking recess formed in the remaining section and receiving the lock segment therein.

Referring to the drawings, a preferred embodiment of the new hosiery form is illustrated in FIG. 1 and is indicated by the number It The form shown may be employed for boarding socks. As seen also in FIG. 2, the form is of two-piece construction having a form body 12 and a complementary toe section 14. In this embodiment, toe sections 14 of various sizes or lengths and shapes may be used interchangeably with a single body 12, in drying and setting hosiery of diiferent sizes.

The form body 12 includes a leg section 16 which tapers inwardly in the shank at.17 and terminates in a slotted outer end 18. The :outer end is provided with openings 19 for fastening means, and is adapted to be secured more or less permanently to a suitable support, with the remainder of the body extending upwardly from the support. The body also includes a heel section 20 which is integral with the leg section and forms the inner end of the body.

The toe section 14 and the body 12 are constructed of contoured flat metal plates which are joined together along abutting edges in the hosiery form 10. The form thus constitutes a substantially flat plate structure having smooth outer side surfaces 22 and 24 (FIG. 3) each lying substantially in one plane parallel to the other. Substantially the entire periphery of the hosiery form 10 is provided with a curved tapered edge 26, as illustrated in FIGS. 3-5. The form is used by pulling a wet sock over the toe and heel sections, and beyond the tapered shank portion 17 The sock is straightened on the form, and it lies flat while drying.

The toe section 14 includes a transverse edge 28 (FIGS. 1 and 2) on its inner end, and the heel section 20 includes a mating transverse edge 30 on its inner end. When the form 10 is assembled, the edges are in continuous abutting relation to each other. The edges have interengaging tongue and groove means which perform several functions. The edge 28 of the toe section 14 is double beveled, as indicated at 28a in FIGS. 3 and 4, to provide tongue means. The edge 30 on the heel section 20 is provided with a V-shaped groove 30a, as seen in FIGS. 3 and 5. It will be apparent that other interlocking joint means may be employed if desired.

The toe section inner edge 28 defines an elongated central longitudinal recess 32 in the section, which extends for a substantial distance in the direction of the outer or toe end of the section. The recess is bordered by wing portions 14a and 14b of the .toe section. The heel section edge.30 defines a mating elongated central projection or finger 34 which is received within the recess 32. The projection is bordered by shoulders 20a and 20b, which abut on the respective wing portions 14:: and 14b. The construction serves for assembling the sections of the hosiery form in proper alignment, rigidly securing the assembled sections together, and cooperating with the locking means, as subsequently described.

The toe section 14 is assembled on the body 12 by aligning the projection 34 with the recess 32 and bringing the parts together, with the sections sliding on each other. The body may be mounted in its operating position at this time, such as on a stationary or movable support cooperating with a drying chamber. The tongue 28a on one edge and the groove 30a on the mating edge are interengaged, and they guide the sections in proper alignment during assembly. When the sections have been brought together with the respective transverse edges 28 and 30 in continuous abutting relation, the construction of recess and projection provided by the tongue and groove means results in a strong rigid interconnection, and the surfaces 22 and 24 of the form 10 are substantially continuous, fiat and smooth.

Locking means are provided on one side 22 of the hosiery form for holding the sections together. An elongated flat metal spring lock or latch 36 is mounted on one side of the projection 34 on the heel section 20. The spring lock is mounted in a groove 38 (FIG. 3) in the side of the projection, by means of flush rivets 37 extending from the opposite side 24. The groove has the same contour and depth as the spring lock. Consequently, the outer surface of the spring lock is substantially flush with the outer surface of the projection and with the remainder of the outer surface 22 of the hosiery form 10, and there are no obstructions or irregularities to interfere with boarding or removing hosiery.

The spring lock 36 extends transversely of the form at about the middle of the length of the projection 34. The lock includes an end segment 36a which protrudes outwardly from the projection 34. A transversely extending locking recess or groove 40 (FIGS. 24) is provided in the corresponding side of one Wing portion 14a of the toe section 14. The recess has the same contour and depth as the protruding lock segment 36a, and the segment is received within the recess when the toe section 14 and the body 12 are completely assembled. The lock segment is substantially flush with the outer surface of the toe section, so that there are no surface obstructions or irregularities at this location.

As the toe section 14 and the body 12 are brought together in assembling the hosiery form 10, the protruding segment 36a of the spring lock contacts the leading edge of the Wing portion 14a in which the locking recess 40 is formed. The tongue 28a on the edge provides cam means which engages the lock segment to cause it to clear the wing portion during assembly, with the segment riding on the surface of therwing portion. The lock segment enters the locking recess 40 automatically when the sections are slid into their fully assembled condition, and thereafter, the locking means prevent relative longitudinal movement of the sections of the form.

When it is desired to board hosiery having a different foot size, in the course of operations, the toe section 14 is detached and replaced by another similar section having a different size, which corresponds to the size of the hosiery. For this purpose, a small access opening 42 (FIG. 3) is formed in the toe section. The access opening extends from one side 24 of the form in the direction of the opposite side 22, and it communicates or registers with the locking recess 40 centrally thereof. Any suitable instrument may be inserted from the side 24 into the opening 42, to flex and remove the lock segment 36a from the locking. recess and elevate it above. the plane of the side 22 of the form. The toe section 14 and the body 12 then are detached from each other simply by pulling them apart. Another toe section is mounted on the body in the maner previously described, merely by aligning the toe section recess 32 with the heel section, projection 34 and sliding. the toe section on the projection until the transverse edges 28 and 30 abut, and the lock segment 36;: seats in the locking recess 49.

The new hosiery form 10 thus is very simply and economically constructed and used. The form is constructed of but two metal plates and a spring lock, and only simple machining and finishing operations are required. The form is readily assembled and disassembled by an operator, and, the only implement required is a pin serving to remove the lock segment 36a from the locking recess 40. The surfaces of the form are substantially smooth, continuous and unbroken, and free of projections and irregularities which would interfere with boarding operations, cause the hosiery to set improperly, or snag the hosiery. The form is especially suitable for use on continuous hosiery boarding machines.

While a preferred sock form has been shown and described for purposes of illustration, other types and styles of hosiery forms may be constructed according to the invention. Various sections of the hosiery forms may be detachably joined together in an equivalent manner, and each form may be constructed of a plurality of pairs of joined sections. Thus, for example, full length stocking forms may be provided. Two or more parts of the form body 12 or the like may be joined in like manner, e.g., leg and heel sections such as represented by the sections numbered 16 and 20 may be detachably joined. A

hosiery form may include such detachable sections toe.i

gethcr with the illustrative detachable toe and heel sections 14 and 20, or either pair of sections may be employed alone.

It will be apparent that various additional changes and modifications may be made in the hosiery form within the spirit and scope of the invention. It is intended that all such changes and modifications be included within the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

A hosiery form for use with interchangeable parts and comprising a heel plate, a toe plate detachably joined to said heel plate to provide a two-piece hosiery form having substantially continuous smooth outer surfaces, said plates adjoining each other at transverse abutting edges, one said toe plate edge defining a longitudinal recess in the plate, the remaining said plate edge defining a mating projection extending into said recess, a fiat spring secured on one side of said projection substantially flush with the surface thereof, said spring including a segment protruding transversely outwardly from said projection, means forming a locking recess in the corresponding side of said one plate and receiving said spring segment therein substantially flush with the surface thereof, whereby relative longitudinal movement of the plates is prevented, said abutting edges respectively having interengaging tongue means and groove means thereon for joining said plates together in alignment in said form and whereby said plates are slidable on each other and guided into alignment in assembling the plates together, said tongue means engaging said. spring segment to cause it to clear said one plate during assembly, sm'd spring segment entering said locking recess when the plates are assembled, and means forming an access opening through said one plate and communicating with said locking recess, for inserting an instrument to remove said spring segment from the recess and permit the plates to be separated.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 295,192 3/84 Grts 24-230 521,063 6/94 Wettstein et al. 24230 X 1,500,569 7/24 Barnhill 287-103 X 1,560,415 11/25 Dennison 223- 1,583,631 5/26 Wanamaker 223-75 1,596,858 8/26 Adams 292-303 1,709,712 4/29 Pagan 223-75 1,747,990 2/30 Sibson 223-75 JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Examiner, 

